Video preview creation with link

ABSTRACT

Providing a method for creating and displaying portions of videos called video previews. The video previews may be associated with a link to a full video, such that the video preview is generated from a portion of the full video. The video previews are configured to play a series of images associated with images from the portion of the full video when the video preview is activated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. PatentApplication No. 61/761,096, filed on Feb. 5, 2013, U.S. PatentApplication No. 61/822,105, filed on May 10, 2013, U.S. PatentApplication No. 61/847,996, filed on Jul. 18, 2013, and U.S. PatentApplication No. 61/905,772, filed on Nov. 18, 2013, which are hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

This application is related to commonly owned and concurrently filedU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/173,715, entitled “User Interfacefor Video Preview Creation”, U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/173,732, entitled “Video Preview Creation based on Environment”, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/173,740, entitled “Video Preview Creationwith Audio”, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/173,745, entitled“Generation of Layout of Videos”, U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/173,753, entitled “Activating a Video Based on Location in Screen”,which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND

Users commonly provide video content to websites (e.g., YouTube), whichcan be referred to as “posting a video.” The user can spend asignificant amount of time to convey the message of the video before theuser selects the video (e.g., by clicking the video displayed on awebsite). For example, the user can associate a title, a staticthumbnail image, and/or a textual description with the video. Usersoften have an difficult time when the video originates on a differentwebsite and the user tries to upload their video to a video server.Further, the title may not be descriptive of the contents of the video,the static thumbnail image may not summarize the essence of the video,or the description of the video may be a poor signal for whether thevideo will be interesting to a viewer.

Video browsing is also limited. Other users (e.g., viewers) can accessand view the video content via the websites. For example, the viewerscan see a video's title and static thumbnail of the video beforedeciding whether to play the full video. However, the viewers may findit difficult to select particular videos of interest because the titlemay not be descriptive of the contents of the video, the staticthumbnail image may not summarize the essence of the video, or thetextual description with the video may be a poor signal for whether thevideo will be interesting to the viewer. Thus, the viewers may spendsignificant amounts of time searching and watching videos that are notenjoyable to the viewer.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention can create and display portions ofvideos as video previews. The video previews may be associated with afull video, such that the video preview is generated from a portion ofthe full video. The video previews are configured to play a series ofimages associated with images from the portion of the full video whenthe video preview is activated (e.g., to convey the essence of the fullvideo via a video preview).

Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide a method forcreating video previews based on sections of a full video that have beenviewed more than once. For example, a series of images from the fullvideo can be identified and associated with a video portion that hasbeen played more than once, so that the video preview is generated fromthat identified portion. The video preview can be configured to play thevideo portion when the video preview is activated.

Other embodiments are directed to systems and computer readable mediaassociated with methods described herein.

A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentinvention may be gained with reference to the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart illustrating a method of creating a videopreview, organizing the video previews, and providing a user interfacethat includes the video previews according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows block diagrams of various subsystems used to generate orprovide a video preview.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating a method of generating a videopreview according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating a method of generating a videopreview according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a graphical user interface that allows a user to generate avideo portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a graphical user interface that may be used to generate avideo preview according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a graphical user interface that may be used to generate avideo preview according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a graphical user interface that may be used to capture avideo preview from a streaming video according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart illustrating a method of playing a videopreview according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows an illustration of a caption and a video according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows an illustration of a caption and a video preview in agraphical user interface according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of a computer apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DEFINITIONS

A “video preview” is a visual representation of a portion of a video(also referred to as a “full video” to contrast a “video preview” of thevideo). The full video may correspond to the entirety of a video file ora portion of the video file, e.g., when only a portion of the video filehas been streamed to a user device. The preview is shorter than the fullvideo, but the full video can be shorter than the complete video file.The preview can convey the essence of the full video. The video previewis shorter (e.g., fewer images, less time) than a full (e.g., moreimages, longer time, substantially complete) video. In variousembodiments, a preview can be a continuous portion of the full video orinclude successive frames that are not continuous in the full video(e.g., two successive frames of the preview may actually be one or moreseconds apart in the full video).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention can enhance video viewing byproviding short, instantly-playable video previews through a graphicaluser interface (GUI). Viewers can use the GUI of video previews tobetter decide whether to watch a full video, or channel of videos.

In one embodiment, the user may create a video preview that may later beaccessed by a viewer. For example, the user may select the best 1-10seconds of a video to convey the essence of the full video. The videopreview can be shorter (e.g., fewer images, less time) than a full(e.g., more images, longer time, substantially complete) video. Thesystem associated with the GUI may generate a smaller file to associatewith the video portion (e.g., animated GIF, MP4, collection of frames,RIFF). The system may provide the GUI on a variety of systems. Forexample, the GUI can be provided via an internet browser or clientapplications (e.g., software configured to be executed on a device)configured to run on a variety of devices (e.g., mobile, tablet,set-top, television). In other examples, a Resource Interchange FileFormat (RIFF) format can be used as a container format for storing data(e.g., the video preview, the full video, frames/images) in chunks.

I. Providing Video Previews

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 100 of creating a videopreview, organizing the video previews, and providing a user interfacethat includes the video previews according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The method 100 may comprise a plurality of steps forimplementing an embodiment of creating a video preview with a link.Various computing devices may be used to perform the steps of themethod, including video servers, provider servers, user devices, orthird party devices.

At step 110, a video preview may be generated. Embodiments of theinvention may provide a graphical user interface for a user that allowsthe user to select a portion of a video (e.g., a full video) to use as avideo preview. The system may generate the video preview based on theinput received from the user. The input may be active (e.g., the userproviding an identification of a video portion of a full video) orpassive (e.g., a plurality of users view a section of the full video athreshold number of times, which identifies a video portion of a fullvideo).

Additional means of generating video previews can be found in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/173,715, entitled “User Interface forVideo Preview Creation”, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/173,732,entitled “Video Preview Creation based on Environment”, and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/173,740, entitled “Video Preview Creation withAudio” which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

At step 120, one or more video previews may be organized into one ormore channels or collections. For example, the method 100 can associatethe video preview generated in step 110 (e.g., a 4-second animated GIFof a snowboarder jumping off a ledge) with a channel (e.g., a collectionof videos about snowboarders). In some embodiments, the video previewsmay be organized in a group (e.g., a composite, a playable group, acluster of video previews) and displayed on a network page. Additionalinformation about the organization and layout of video previews can befound in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/173,745, entitled“Generation of Layout of Videos”, which is incorporated by reference inits entirety.

At step 130, a GUI may be provided with the video previews. For example,the GUI may provide one or more channels (e.g., channel relating tosnowboarders, channel relating to counter cultures), one or more videoswithin a channel (e.g., a first snowboarding video, a secondsnowboarding video, and a first counter culture video), or a networkpage displaying one or more video previews. The video previews may beshared through social networking pages, text messaging, or other means.Additional information about viewing and sharing video previews can befound in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/173,753, entitled“Activating a Video Based on Location in Screen”, which is incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

II. System for Providing Video Previews

Various systems and computing devices can be involved with variousworkflows used to create a video preview with a link (e.g., to a fullvideo).

A. System for Generating Video Previews

FIG. 2 shows block diagrams of various computing devices used togenerate or provide a video preview. For example, the computing devicescan include a video server 210, a provider server 220, a user device230, or a third party server 240 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. In some embodiments, any or all of these servers,subsystems, or devices may be considered a computing device.

Computing devices may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a desktop computer, athin-client device, a tablet PC, server computer(s), or one more virtualmachines implemented in a hosted computing environment. In oneillustrative configuration, the computing devices may include at leastone memory and one or more processing units or processor(s). Theprocessor(s) may be implemented as appropriate in hardware,computer-executable instructions, firmware, or combinations thereof.Computer-executable instruction or firmware implementations of theprocessor(s) may include computer-executable or machine-executableinstructions written in any suitable programming language to perform thevarious functions described. The computing devices may also includegeo-location devices (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) device orthe like) for providing and/or recording geographic location informationassociated with the computing devices.

The memory may store program instructions that are loadable andexecutable on the processor(s), as well as data generated during theexecution of these programs. Depending on the configuration and type ofcomputing device, the memory may be volatile (e.g., random access memory(RAM)) and/or non-volatile (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory).The computing device may also include additional removable storageand/or non-removable storage including, but not limited to, magneticstorage, optical disks, and/or tape storage. The disk drives and theirassociated computer-readable media may provide non-volatile storage ofcomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, andother data for the computing devices. In some implementations, thememory may include multiple different types of memory, such as staticrandom access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), orROM.

In some embodiments, the video server 210 can provide, transmit, andstore full videos and/or video previews (e.g., Ooyala®, Brightcove®,Vimeo®, YouTube®, CNN®, NFL®, Hulu®, Vevo®). In some embodiments, thevideo server 210 can be a video-sharing website on which users canupload, view, and share videos. The video server may display a widevariety of user-generated and third party-generated video content,including video clips, television clips, musical videos, and amateurcontent such as video blogging, short original videos, and educationalvideos. The video server 210 may include registered and/or unregistereduser access to upload or view various full videos and/or video previews.

The provider server 220 can interact with the video server 210 toprovide the video previews. In some embodiments, the provider server 220can receive information to generate the video preview (e.g., the link tothe full video, the full video file, an identification of a portion of afull video to use to generate the video preview, a push notificationincluding the link to the full video). The provider server 220 mayprovide one or more software applications or hardware that users orthird parties can use to identify portions of full videos to use togenerate the video previews.

The user device 230 can receive a video preview and/or full video andtransmit information (e.g., an identification of a video portion of thefull video, a timestamp) to generate the video preview from the fullvideo. In some embodiments, the user device 230 may also be used toview, browse, or store the generated video previews.

The third party server 240 can also receive a video preview and/or fullvideo and transmit information (e.g., an identification of a videoportion of the full video, a timestamp) to generate the video previewfrom the full video. In some embodiments, the third party server 240 mayalso be used to view or browse the generated video previews.

The video server 210, provider server 220, a user device 230, and thirdparty server 240 may communicate via one or more networks. The networksmay include any one or a combination of many different types ofnetworks, such as cable networks, the Internet, wireless networks,cellular networks and other private and/or public networks. It is alsonoted that the described techniques may apply in other client/serverarrangements (e.g., set-top boxes), as well as in non-client/serverarrangements (e.g., locally stored applications).

In some embodiments, the video server 210, provider server 220, a userdevice 230, and third party server 240 can be used to create a videopreview with a link (e.g., to a full video). For example, the computingdevice (e.g., a provider server 220) may receive an identification of avideo portion of the full video that corresponds to a series of imagesfrom the full video. The identification of a video portion of the fullvideo can include a particular time stamp, identification of a locationin the full video (e.g., at minute 1:10 of a 3:00 minute video), orother identification.

In some embodiments, a link may be associated with electronic content,information, or files other than a full video. For example, the link mayaccess an intermediate page, including a main page that includes morethan one full video accessible from the page. As an illustration, thefull video may be accessible through the uniform resource locator (URL)“www.mainwebpage.com/videos” and the link may direct the computingdevice to “www.mainwebpage.com.” The user may be able to browse throughthe content using the computing device in order to access the fullvideo. In some examples, the link may access information that does notinclude the full video. As an illustration, the video preview may show apair of shoes that, when selected, can direct the computing device to apage to purchase the shoes in an ecommerce platform. As anotherillustration, the link may access a shared repository (e.g., data store)that access an electronic file not associated with a full video.

The video previews or full videos may be stored in a database (e.g., atthe computing device). The database may include a copy of the videopreview and any information associated with the video preview (e.g.,tags, captions, run time, shares). The database may be searchable. Thedatabase may be key/value based, or defined in a table format.

B. System-Generated Video Previews Using Non-Sequential Images

The video portion can correspond with non-sequential images from thefull video. For example, the user or third party may select the first 10seconds of the video (e.g., showing a visual display of the title in thevideo), the middle 5 seconds (e.g., a person falling down on asnowboard), and another 10 seconds of the video (e.g., showing theperson jumping off of a ramp on the snowboard). In some instances, thesenon-sequential images may correspond with the essence of the video thatthe user would like to portray in a video preview. In some embodiments,the non-sequential images may be frames from the full video that combineto form a video portion that corresponds to the full video.

C. System-Generated Video Previews Using a Locally-Stored Full Video

The computing device (e.g., a provider server 220, user device 230) mayalso be configured to generate a video preview from the full video. Insome embodiments, the computing device can receive a link to a fullvideo from a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI may be storedlocally on a computing device (e.g., user device 230) or accessedremotely by a user or a third party (e.g., on a provider server 220).The video preview may be generated on various computing devices, each ofwhich may use a different process of generating the video previewwithout diverting from the essence of the invention. For example, thecomputing devices can include a personal computer or tablet computer.Also, the subsystems can access a network page, websites, GUIs,applications, or other software to generate the video preview.

D. User-Generated Video Preview at a Provider Server

In an embodiment, a video preview may be generated by a provider server220 using an identification of a video portion of the full video at auser device 230. For example, the user device 230 may be a personalcomputer that accesses a web browser. The web browser can be used todirect the user to a website. The user can access a portion of thewebsite that is used to generate the video previews by providing logincredentials. In an embodiment, the login credentials can be savedthrough use of cookies or other software that recognizes the user whenthey browse to the website.

The user device 230 may include a software application to interact withthe provider server 220, so that the provider server 220 generates thevideo preview and transmits the generated video preview to the userdevice 230. For example, the user device 230 may first access an “appstore” or some provider of software applications. The user device 230can receive an executable file, so that the user device 230 is enabledto generate video previews. After installation, the video server 210 cantransmit a full video to the user device 230 at the softwareapplication, instead of transmitting the full video to a GUI displayedon a webpage. The user device 230 can activate the request buttonprovided by the software application to identify the timestamp. The userdevice 230 can transmit the timestamp, reference to the full video, orother information (e.g., user device ID, IP address, cookies, starttime, length of the desired video preview) to the provider server. Theprovider server 220 may request and receive a full video. The providerserver 220 can then provide the video preview to the user device 230 viathe software application.

E. User-Generated Video Preview at a User Device

In some embodiments, the user device 230 can generate a video previewlocally (e.g., using a software application or “app”). The user device230 may first access an “app store” or some provider of softwareapplications. The user device 230 can receive an executable file, sothat the user device 230 is enabled to generate video previews. Afterinstallation, the software application on the user device cancommunicate with the video server 210 to receive a full video at theuser device 230. The user device 230 may activate a request buttonprovided by the software application to generate a timestamp, a starttime, and/or length of the desired video preview. The softwareapplication can use the full video (e.g., MP4 file, stream, full videoportion) to generate the video preview (e.g., by transcoding the fullvideo, by using a portion of the encoded full video).

The user device 230 can transmit the generated video preview to theprovider server 220. The provider server 220 can store a backup of thevideo preview and/or help the user device distribute the generated videopreview (e.g., via social networking, using a distributed database).

In some embodiments, the video preview (e.g., file, animated GIF, linkto a video preview) may be stored in a temporary location on a userdevice 230 (e.g., clipboard, temporary data buffer) or at anotherlocation associated with the user device 230 (e.g., cache, removablestorage device) determined by the software application after the videopreview is generated. The user may copy/paste the video preview to anemail client, SMS, or other application in order to use or share thevideo with other applications and/or devices.

In some embodiments, the user device 230 generates the full videoindependent of the video server 210. The user device 230 can transmitthe full video to the provider server 220, instead of transmitting areference to the full video. The provider server 220 can generate thevideo preview (e.g., via transcoding) and provide the video preview tothe user device 230. In some embodiments, the user device 230 can uploadthe video preview to the video server 210.

The full video may or may not be stored on the server. In an embodiment,the full video may be provided to the user by linking the user with thefull video stored at its original location (e.g., by services providedby Hulu®, Netflix®, iTunes®).

F. User-Generated Video Preview at a Video Server

In some embodiments, the video server 210 may generate the full videoand/or video preview without diverting from the essence of thedisclosure.

G. Third-Party Generated Video Preview

A video preview may be generated by a provider server 220 using anidentification of a video portion of the full video at a third partyserver 240 (e.g., instead of a user device 230). For example, the thirdparty server 240 may be a personal computer that accesses a web browser.The web browser can be used to direct the third party to a website. Thethird party can access a portion of the website that is used to generatethe video previews by providing login credentials. In an embodiment, thelogin credentials can be saved through use of cookies or other softwarethat recognizes the third party when they browse to the website.

Several embodiments are possible. In some examples, the third partyserver 240 may include a software application to interact with theprovider server 220. The video server 210 can transmit a full video tothe third party server 240 via the software provided through providerserver 220. The third party server 240 can identify a video portion ofthe full video (e.g., by activating a request button provided by thesoftware on the provider server 220, by indicating a start time and endtime via a GUI). The provider server 220 can use the identified videoportion, reference to the full video, or other information (e.g., userdevice ID, IP address, cookies, start time, length of the desired videopreview) to generate the video preview. The provider server 220 cantransmit the generated video preview to a shared repository (e.g.,website, database) or directly to a user device 230 or third partyserver 240. In some examples, the provider server 220 will distributethe video preview in order for users to receive a link to content (e.g.,a full video, a website, online content) provided by the third partyserver 240.

In some embodiments, the third party server can generate multiple videopreviews related to the same full video (e.g., to test the receptivenessusers have to the video preview). For example, the third party server240 can identify a video portion of the full video (e.g., by indicatinga start time and end time via a GUI). The provider server 220 can usethe identified video portion, reference to the full video, or otherinformation (e.g., user device ID, IP address, cookies, start time,length of the desired video preview) to generate the video preview. Theprovider server 220 can transmit the generated video preview to a sharedrepository (e.g., website, database). When users access the sharedrepository, the third party server 240 can collect information about thevideo previews (e.g., count the number of times each video preview isactivated or selected, determine how long users watch the video previewafter activating it). The third party server 240 may determine whichvideo preview is more popular with users to get the users to select thevideo preview and access the link (e.g., to the full video, toinformation associated with the video preview).

H. User-Provided Full Videos

In an embodiment, a full video may be provided to the video server 210from a user device 230. For example, the user can operate a device(e.g., video camera) to capture a series of images and temporarily storethe images on the user device 230. The user can upload the video to thevideo server 210 or provider server 220. For example, the video server210 may provide a GUI or other tools to accept a title, description,caption, or other information to help identify the video. In otherexamples, the provider server 220 can provide a GUI or other tools toaccept the same information (e.g., title, description, caption) andtransmit the full video to the video server 210 or data store maintainedby the video server.

Once received, the video server 210 can manage the full video to makethe full video accessible for other users. For example, the video server210 may post the video to a network page and associate the correspondinginformation (e.g., title, description, caption) with the full video. Theuploaded video can be a full video used to generate a video preview. Forexample, once the user uploads the full video to the video server 210,the user can identify a video portion of the full video, correspondingto a series of images from the full video, to help capture the essenceof the full video.

III. Creation of a Video Preview

Various methods may be implemented to create the video preview.

A. Creating a Video Preview Using a Link to a Full Video

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating a method of generating a videopreview according to an embodiment of the present invention. In someembodiments, a video may begin as a series of frames or images (e.g.,raw format) that are encoded by the video server 210 into a full video.The full video may reduce the size of the corresponding file and enablea more efficient transmission of the full video to other devices (e.g.,provider server 220, user device 230). In some embodiments, the providerserver 220 can transcode the full video (e.g., change the encoding forfull video to a different encoding, encoding the full video to the sameencoding or re-encoding) in order to generate and transmit the videopreview. For example, transcoding may change the start time of a video,duration, or caption information.

The video server 210 may store and provide a full video. The full videocan be received from a user or generated by the computing device andoffered to users through a network page. In some embodiments, anothercomputing device (e.g., a user device 230, a third party server 240) canupload the full video to the video server 210.

At block 310, a link to a full video may be received by a computingdevice. For example, the video server 210 may transmit a full video to auser device 230 through a GUI. The GUI can be configured to provide theuser with the ability to indicate a video portion of a full video (e.g.,a request button that allows the user device 230 to indicate a timestampin the video preview). The user device 230 may identify a video portionof the full video by identifying a start/end time or otheridentification provided by the GUI. The start/end of the full videoidentified by the third party server 240 or user device 230 can betransmitted to the provider server 220 to generate the video preview.For example, the user device 230 may select the start time and end timeof the full video provided by the video server 210 using a button on theGUI. In another example, the user device 230 may activate a buttonprovided locally at the user device (e.g., via a software application,“app”) and identify a start time and end time of the full video at theuser device 230.

In some embodiments, the link to the full video can be included in apush notification. A push notification may be a message transmitted to acomputing device (e.g., a provider server 220) that includes a requestto generate a video preview. The push notification can include the linkto the full video, the request to generate the full video, anidentification of the full video or video portion to use to create thevideo preview, or other information.

At block 320, an identification of a video portion of a full video canbe received by a computing device. For example, the identification ofthe video portion may be a message from the user device 230 to theprovider server 220 that identifies a start/end time of the full video.In some embodiments, the user device 230 may generate a webserverrequest. The webserver request can include a litany of information forthe webserver, including a start/end time, link to a full video at thevideo server 210, timestamp, the user's internet protocol (IP) address,a user-agent string of the browser, cookies, a user's user identifier(ID), and other information. A user-agent string, for example, mayinclude information about a user device 230 in order for the webserverto choose or limit content based on the known capabilities of aparticular version of the user device 230 (e.g., client software). Theprovider server 220 can receive this and other information from the userdevice 230.

The provider server 220 may request a full video based in part on theinformation received from the user device 230. For example, the providerserver 220 can transmit a request (e.g., email, file, message) to thevideo server 210 that references the full video (e.g., link, identifier)referenced by the user device 230. In some examples, the video server210 and provider server 220 may be connected through a direct and/orsecure connection in order to retrieve the video (e.g., MP4 file,stream, full video portion). The video server 210 may transmit the fullvideo (e.g., file, link) to the provider server 220 in response to therequest or link to the full video.

In some embodiments, the request may vary depending on the type videoneeded for the full video or requested video preview. For example, thefull video may be a raw MP4 format (e.g., compressed using advancedaudio coding (AAC) encoding, Apple Lossless format). The provider server220 can determine that the desired format for the user device 230 is adifferent type of file format (e.g., an animated GIF) and requestadditional information from the video server 210 in order to transcodethe MP4 format to an animated GIF format for the user device 230 (e.g.,including the device type, application that will play the video preview,etc.).

At block 330, a video preview can be generated. For example, theprovider server 220 receives the full video and may generate the videopreview in a variety of ways, including using encoding, transcoding,re-encoding, or generating a lossless copy of the video.

In some embodiments, the provider server 220 may generate the videopreview through the use of keyframes (e.g., i-frames). For example, theprovider server 220 can generate a video preview by transcoding theimage data to the first keyframe. After the first keyframe, the providerserver 220 can generate a lossless copy of the data starting at aparticular start time and ending at a particular end time (e.g., basedon a timestamp, based on a predetermined duration (e.g., predeterminedlength of time), based on particular information displayed in the imagedata). In some processes, the method may ensure the final product iscorrectly encoded without sacrificing significant processing time bytranscoding the entire video.

At block 340, a video preview object can be created. For example, thevideo preview object can be created by combining the video preview andthe link. In some embodiments, the provider server 220 creates the videopreview object as a graphical, software-based object that is configuredto play a series of images associated with images of the video portionfrom the full video when activated.

The provider server 220 can provide the video preview object to the userdevice 230. The video preview object may be provided using variousmethods. For example, the video preview can be transmitted as a videopreview object via a messaging service to the user device 230, as avideo preview object in an attachment to an email, embedded in an SMS ortext message, provided through a GUI accessible by the user device, orother methods. In some embodiments, the video preview (e.g., file,animated GIF, link to a video preview) may be stored in a temporarylocation (e.g., clipboard, temporary data buffer) at a user device 230after the video preview object is generated. The user may copy/paste thevideo preview object to an email client, SMS, or other application inorder to use or share the video with other applications and/or devices.

The video preview can be provided to the user device 230 in a variety offormats through the use of a video preview object. For example, thevideo preview object can be provided as a link to a stored file on awebserver and/or the provider server 220, an animated GIF file, an MP4file, or other acceptable file format. In some examples, the videopreview object can be provided in a format based in part on a particulartype of user device 230 (e.g. Apple iPhones can receive a MPEG-4formatted file, Android machines can receive an AVI formatted file). Theuser device 230 may provide information (e.g., device type, operatingsystem) to the provider server 220 prior to receiving the properlyformatted video preview.

In some embodiments, the provider server 220 may provide a GUI thatallows the user device to access one or more social networking platforms(e.g., Facebook®, Twitter®, Google+®, Tumblr®) so that the video previewcan be uploaded directly to the social networking website.

In some embodiments, the video server 210, instead of a provider server220, provides the video preview to the user device 230. For example, theprovider server 220 can receive the full video (e.g., in response to auser request, in response to a push notification). The provider server220 can generate the video preview from the full video (e.g., based onuser input) and provide the video preview to the video server 210. Thevideo server 210 can provide the video preview to a user device 230.

The video server 210 may provide the video preview in various formats.For example, the video server 210 can provide the video preview as anadditional link stored with the video server (e.g., when the videopreview is uploaded to the video server 210 from the provider server220). In another example, the video preview can be transmitted as a linkto the full video with instructions. The instructions can identify for aweb browser, software application, or user device which portion of thefull video to play and/or repeat for the video preview. In yet anotherexample, the video preview may be provided as an attachment to amessage, provided through a GUI accessible by the user device, or othermethods. In another example, the video server 210 can store thegenerated video preview at the video server 210 and provide the videopreview (or link to the video preview) to the user device 230 as apre-encoded video preview from the provider server 220.

B. Creating a Video Preview Using Feedback

Embodiments of the present invention can analyze the behavior from oneor more viewers to automatically generate video previews. For example, amethod can determine which sections of a full video that viewers arewatching and generate a video preview based on that section.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating a method of generating a videopreview according to an embodiment of the present invention. In someembodiments, a computing device can receive a full video. For example, acomputing device (e.g., provider server 220) can receive a link to afull video from a GUI. In some embodiments, the computing device mayreceive the full video, a video portion corresponding to a series ofimages of the full video, or the video preview.

At block 410, the computing device receives a number of times that aplurality of sections have been played. For example, for each of aplurality of sections of the full video, the computing device canreceive a number of times that the section of the video has been viewedby a plurality of viewers. The computing device can track the number oftimes a frame, images, or plurality of frames/images of the videoviewers watch the most.

In an embodiment, one or more users can play a full video, which canactivate a process at the computing device. The computing device cantrack which portions of the video viewers watch the most. For example,if the full video is a minute long and 10 percent of all viewers rewindthe video to replay a video portion between seconds 32 and 37, thecomputing device can generate a video preview of the portion of thevideo between 32 and 37 seconds. This may help generate feedback (e.g.,crowd sourcing) from the viewers about the best parts of the full videoto use for a video preview.

In an embodiment, only a subset of viewers may be considered todetermine which portion of the video should be used to generate a videopreview. For example, if 15% of the viewers watch the entire video,those viewers can be considered as a sample selection of viewers thatthe process analyzes. The portion of the video that the 15% of viewersrewind can be the portion of the video that is used to generate thevideo preview, so that the full video replays the video portion morethan once.

In an embodiment, multiple video previews can be generated by analyzingdifferent sets of viewers. For example, one set of viewers may onlywatch 1 minute of the video and like the first 5 seconds of the video,while another sample of viewers watch an entire 3 minute video and likeminutes 1:35-1:40. The computing device may determine “liking” a portionof a video when the video is rewound to that portion and replayed. Videopreviews can be generated based on each set of viewers.

At block 420, one or more sections of the full video may be identifiedthat have been played a threshold number of times. In an embodiment, thecomputing device can identify (e.g., count) the number of times aportion of the full video is played and compare it to a threshold. Forexample, a threshold number of times may be at least double the numberof times that other sections are viewed, so that the plurality of usersview the particular section of the full video at least twice as often asother sections of the full video. Any threshold number of times may becorrelated with the threshold without diverting from the essence of theembodiment.

At block 430, a series of images can be identified from the full videothat have been played more than once. In some examples, once thethreshold number of times the video portion has been played, thecomputing device can generate a notification that the threshold has beenreached and identify the series associated with the threshold.

At block 440, a video preview can be generated. For example, thecomputing device can transcode the full video (e.g., change the encodingfor full video to a different encoding, encoding the full video to thesame encoding or re-encoding) in order to generate the video preview. Inan embodiment, the computing device can combine multiple sections of thevideo to create the video preview, including the sections of the fullvideo that have been played a threshold number of times (e.g., 25% morethan the rest of the video). Different sections of the video preview canbe combined to create a single video preview.

In some embodiments, the video preview can be transmitted (e.g., to auser device). For example, the method may first transmit the videopreview to the client once the video preview has been created. Themethod may send a request to the user device to confirm that the videopreview is acceptable, and receive a response from the user device. Whenthe response indicates that the video preview is acceptable, the methodmay send a message to a second computing device that includes the videopreview and a link to the full video. In some examples, the link to thefull video can be generated and shared by pasting the link in a messagetransmitted by the device via a network. In some examples, the GUI canactivate an email application. The GUI may also initiate a draft emailaddressed to an arbitrary number of the user's contacts and place thevideo preview as contents of the email. The user can add text to theemail, as necessary. In some examples, the messages application may beopened externally to the video preview generation application (e.g., inan iOS operating system, in environments that support pasting the sliceinto an iMessage or MMS). The GUI may not automatically address thecontacts in one or more environments, which may leave the user tomanually input the contact addresses and/or incorporate a process foradding addresses outside of the GUI application.

In some embodiments, reports or summaries may be generated with theinformation to help analyze the viewers' behaviors (e.g., histograms).

C. GUI for Video Previews with a Linked File

Embodiments can provide a graphical user interface where users canspecify a range in time for a given full video that represents a portionof the video to create a video preview. For example, the user mayspecify a 5-second portion of a demolition video that shows when thebuilding falls to the ground. This 5-second portion may represent thebest animated moment of the full video or the essence of the full video.Users specify the link to the video or upload the file and are providedan interface to preview and select a range of video that best representsthe full video or channel of videos.

FIG. 5 shows a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user togenerate a video portion according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The GUI 500 can comprise a title area 510, caption area 520,video area 530, and video selection portion 540. The video selectionportion 540 can include a scroll bar 545, an indicator 550, a text areadisplaying the amount of time associated with the selected video 555, acreate button 560, and a cancel button 565. The GUI may also display theorigin of the video 570.

The user may provide a title for the video in the title area 510. Theuser may generate the title, which can eventually be displayed to aviewer, and can summarize the contents of the full video and/or theassociated video preview.

The user may also provide a caption for the video in the caption area520. The caption may be displayed to a viewer (e.g., in addition to thetitle) and can summarize the contents of the full video and/or theassociated video preview.

The user may provide a path or link to a video. In one embodiment, usersprovide a link to the video content. Video content can be retrieved fromthe link and displayed in the video area 530. For example, the videoarea 530 can display the complete video or the video preview. In anembodiment, the path to a video may be to a source at a client computer(e.g., C:\ drive), at an external source like a website, or at a videoserver 210.

In an embodiment, the video may be captured using a GUI that alsodisplay the video. For instance, a user could create a 5-minute videowhile watching Netflix® or HBO GO® in his or her browser. The 5-minutevideo may not necessarily link to the hosted content (e.g., at the videoserver 210) and instead link to a location of where the newly created5-minute video is stored (e.g., at the user device 230).

In an embodiment, the user may select multiple videos to incorporateinto one or more video previews. For example, the user can include“snippets” or small portions of one or more full videos to generate avideo preview (e.g., one video portion from one television show and onevideo portion from another television show, or a combination of videoportions to showcase a particular actor in many roles). For example, onesnippet can be taken from the video of one episode of the show andanother snippet can be taken from a different episode of the show. Asanother example, one snippet can be taken from one show on a firstchannel and another snippet can be taken from a different show on thefirst channel.

In an embodiment, the user may provide the video preview. For example,the video preview may be provided without capturing a portion of a fullvideo. The user may provide the video preview to the GUI and the videopreview may be displayed in the GUI.

Once a path or link to the video has been provided (e.g., link to avideo on a video server 210, path to a captured video using the GUI),the user may select the range of image frames from the video or a rangeof time from the video to use as a video preview, using the videoselection portion 540. In some embodiments, the user can select a rangeof time in the video (e.g., 10 seconds). In other embodiments,individual frames could be listed and a user could select a certainnumber of frames (e.g., 1-10) or select the individual frames (e.g.,frames 0, 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20). The range can be stored as a set ofimages in any relevant image format (e.g., GIF, JPG). The set of imagescan be placed adjacent to each other (e.g., strung together) in a videofile. This may create a video portion. It can be advantageous to storethe images in an image format, because the video preview can load thevideo preview much faster than a standard video format (e.g., AVI, WMV)when the viewer later activates the video preview (e.g., when the videopreview is in the middle of a screen on a device and playing instantly)or selects the video preview (e.g., when the video preview was activatedand began playing, and then the viewer has double-tapped the location ofthe video preview to initiate the complete video).

The video portion 540 may also include a scroll bar 545. The scroll barmay be a representation of the video in terms of time. For example, thelength of the scroll bar can represent 4 minutes, which could be theentire length of the video. If the indicator 550 is in the middle of thescroll bar, the position of the video may be at 2 minutes, or in themiddle of the video.

Non-consecutive frames can be chosen as well. For example, a user canselect several clips of a video that would play consecutively. In oneembodiment, the GUI can contain a draggable “gripper” that enables theuser to select a precise number of sections to use for the videopreview. Multiple grippers could be added to the video timeline andnumbered. Additionally, an uploading interface could enable users toupload individual scenes of videos (e.g., scenes the user made, framesor images found on external websites) and splice the scenes together tocreate a video preview with non-consecutive frames.

The video portion 540 may also include a text area displaying the amountof time associated with the selected video 555. For example, the textarea may show the particular position of the video that was used togenerate the video portion (e.g., the 3-minute video at 1 minute 31seconds through 1 minute 35 seconds was used to make the video portion)and how much of the video has been used to create the video portion(e.g. 4 seconds). The text area displaying the amount of time associatedwith the selected video 555 may also notify the user of any limitationsassociated with generating a video preview (e.g., only 10 seconds of thevideo may be used for the video preview).

Additionally, the user can specify a number of frames per second tosample the video by, so that a short preview can cover a much longersection of the video. For instance, 60 seconds of the video could beconveyed in 10 seconds by selecting only a fraction of the originalframes. The GUI may display the altered frame rate (not shown).

In some embodiments, the user or third party may specify a number offrames per second (e.g., via the GUI, in a request external to the GUI,identified in a profile specifying a default number of frames per secondfor video previews). The frame rate for the video preview can be a framerate less than the frame rate in the full video (e.g., 10 frames persecond vs. 15 frames per second) or the same frame rate as the framerate in the full video. In some embodiments, the computing device canreceive the specified number of frames per second and generate the videopreview based on the specified information. The video preview can begenerated at an altered frame rate associated with the specified numberof frames per second.

The video portion 540 may also include a create button 560 and a cancelbutton 565. For example, once the user has selected the frames or timeto use for the video portion, the user can select the create button 560to create a video preview or the cancel button 565 to not create a videopreview.

The GUI 500 may also display the origin of the video 570. For example,if the user provided a link to a video in YouTube®, the GUI may displaythe origin of the video in the GUI.

The video portion may be uploaded to a computing device. In anembodiment, the video portion may be uploaded to the computing devicedirectly (e.g., without a full video uploaded as well). The videoportion can be combined with other previews and associated with the fullvideo at another time. A video portion may also be created from a full(e.g., longer, complete, original) video. The full video can beretrieved from the original source and stored on the computing device sothat the appropriate section of the full video can be selected andconverted into individual frames (e.g. GIF format) or a specific type ofvideo format (e.g. WMV or MP4 format). In an embodiment, a group ofimages or a full encoded video file (such as an MP4 file) could beuploaded to the computing device. The video preview can be stored on thecomputing device or on an external hosting service.

FIG. 6 shows a graphical user interface (GUI) that may be used togenerate a video preview according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The GUI 600 can include one or more options to start theprocess of creating a video preview. For example, the GUI can include amechanism (e.g., button, text box, browsing tool) to access a full videoprovided by a video provider 610, a mechanism to access a full videoprovided by a user device 620, a mechanism to access a full videoprovided by a provider server or user profile 630, and a mechanism toprovide a link to the full video 640.

In some embodiments, the mechanisms may be a button. For example, theuser may select a button on a webpage to create a new video preview.Once the user selects (e.g., clicks) the button, the user create a newvideo preview from an existing full video (e.g., provided by a videoserver), upload an existing video preview (e.g., provided by a userdevice), or use a previously created video preview saved to the user'squeue (e.g., provided by a provider server).

In some embodiments, the mechanisms may be a text box. For example, theuser may type or browse to a uniform resource locator (URL) where thefull video is located. Once the user types, selects, or browses to theURL, the URL (e.g., link) can be displayed in the text box. In someexamples, the user may press a button to browse to the URL. When theuser accesses the URL, the text box (e.g., 640) may be automaticallypopulated with the URL. In other examples, the user can be prompted toenter a URL from an external website (e.g., YouTube®).

When the user specifies a URL, a progress bar may be displayed (notshown). The progress bar can show the progress the computing device hasmade in fetching and/or downloading the video for editing. In anembodiment, the progress bar may be displayed when the user isuploading, editing, and/or saving the video preview.

FIG. 7 shows a GUI 700 that may be used to generate a video previewaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The GUI 700 caninclude the text box 710 for the user to provide a title, a text box 720for the user to provide a caption, a video preview 730, one or moremechanisms to alter the video preview 740, a create button 760, and acancel button 770. These mechanisms to alter the video preview 740 caninclude adding one or more images from the current video 750, adding oneor more images from a video provided by a video server 752, adding oneor more images from a video provided by a user device 754, adding one ormore images from a video provided by a provider server 756, or addingone or more images from a link to a full video 758 located at anotherlocation, accessible by a URL.

The user may use any of the mechanisms 740 to access images to add tothe video preview. For example, the user can select various sources ofimages to add to a video preview. The GUI may be used to add more scenesto the video preview or used to adjust the layout of the videoassociated with the GUI. In one embodiment users can splice multiplescenes from a single video or several different videos together tocreate a single continuously playing preview. This enables creators tobetter visualize and convey elaborate concepts in their video preview.

In one example, the user may select the mechanism (e.g., button)associated with adding images from a video server 750. The selection mayopen a GUI, like the GUI illustrated in FIG. 5. The user can select oneor more images, video portions, or blocks of time to add to the videopreview. The video preview 740 can be updated with the new images. TheGUI 700 may accept identifications of where the new images should beplaced as well.

The user may also choose to add images from a link to a different fullvideo as well. In an embodiment, the user may choose to add images froma link to a full video provided by a video server 752. The GUI 700 canaccess the video server 210 (e.g., through an application that accessesa webpage provided by the video server, through a direct connection to adata store managed by the video server). The user may choose the fullvideo at the video server and the GUI 700 can receive the link to thefull video (e.g., operated by the computing device).

The user may choose to add images from a link to a full video providedby a user device 754. The GUI 700 can access the user device 230 (e.g.,through an application that accesses a webpage provided by the videoserver, through a direct connection to a data store, through a localdrive identified by the user (C:\)). The user may choose the full videoat the user device and the GUI 700 can receive the link to the fullvideo.

The user may choose to add images from a link to a full video providedby a provider server 756. The GUI 700 can access the provider server 220(e.g., through an application that accesses a webpage provided by thevideo server, through a direct connection to a data store associatedwith the provider server). The user may choose the full video at theprovider server and the GUI 700 can receive the link to the full video.

In some embodiments, the portion of the GUI that accepts a link to thefull video 758 may accept a URL or other identification of the locationof the full video. The link can be accessed by the computing device, orreceived through the GUI, once the user provides the URL.

D. Capturing a Video Preview from a Streaming Video

FIG. 8 shows a graphical user interface that may be used to capture avideo preview from a streaming video according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. For example, the GUI 800 can show a streaming fullvideo 810 or a screenshot of a portion of a webpage before the portionof the webpage is captured using the webpage add-on according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The GUI 800 may also include a second GUI 820. The second GUI 820 canoverlay on the first GUI 800 that displays the streaming video 810. Thesecond GUI 820 can include the video preview 830, scroll bar 840,indicator 850, create button 860, cancel button 870, and close button880.

On the first GUI 800, the user can activate and deactivate the streamingvideo functionality. For example, the user can first activate thefunctionality to begin collecting images of the webpage. The user canstop the collection of images (e.g., deactivate the functionality) whenthe desired range of images are captured. In some embodiments, the usermay be directed to an editing interface (e.g., the second GUI 820) thatlets the user select what portion of the video they want to capture. Inan embodiment, the individual screenshot frames can be transmitted tothe computing device where they are assembled into a video preview.

The second GUI 820 may be displayed for the user after the user hascaptured a collection of images. The second GUI 820 can include anediting interface, which can be a layer provided on top of the image ona webpage (e.g., a screen). In the editing interface, the user canresize the area of the webpage that is captured, change the aspectratio, and the like. The user can save the images through the editinginterface. The collection of images can be transmitted to the computingdevice in the aspect ratio defined by the user. In an embodiment, screencaptures of the entire browser can be saved at the computing device andcropped according to the user's specifications. In an embodiment,substantially all frames can be transmitted after the user presses stop.In another embodiment, the frames can be transmitted while the framesare being recorded. The screen captures can be series of images capturedat a defined rate (e.g., 10 frames per second in JPG or PNG format).

In some embodiments, the video preview may be generated from a“progressive download” full video format (e.g., streaming video, HTTPprogressive download). The progressive download may be provided from acomputing device, such that the content from the full video issubstantially independent of the time at which it was received orfetched. In some embodiments, the video preview may be fetched (e.g.,HTTP request or other protocol transmission) and transcoded.

In some embodiments, the video preview may be generated from a streamingfull video, including, for example, a traditional television broadcasttransmitted through an internet protocol (IP) network. The streamingvideo can be provided from a computing device substantially dependent onthe time at which it was received or fetched. In an illustrativeexample, a user would indicate that he or she wishes to create a videopreview from a particular live video stream. The system (e.g., browserapplication, GUI) buffers the video stream and when the user indicates aparticular time range for the video preview, then the system would usethe buffered data to create a video preview. In another illustrativeexample, the user can indicate to the system that he or she wishes tobegin the video preview creation given a live video stream (e.g.,pressing a request button a first time). The system buffers the contentreceived until the user indicates that the end of the video preview hasbeen reached (e.g., pressing the request button a second time). At thispoint, the system creates the video preview based on the buffered data.

As shown in FIG. 2, the provider server 220 may allow the user device230 to generate a video preview from a streaming full video format. Forexample, the video server 210 may provide a traditional televisionbroadcast transmitted through an IP network. In this case, the streamingvideo is provided to the user device 230 from the video server 210. Theuser device 230 selects the request button a first time to startbuffering the streaming video at the provider server 220. The providerserver 220 requests the streaming video from the video server 210. Thevideo server 210 provides the streaming video to the provider server 220and begins storing the video data (e.g., buffering). The user device 230selects the request button a second time to notify the provider serverto stop buffering the streaming video. The provider server 220 generatesthe video preview based in part on the video received between the firstand second request. The provider server 220 may then provide the videopreview of the streaming video to the user device 230.

In some embodiments, the user device 230 selects the request button onlyone time to identify a timestamp, without selecting an end time. Theprovider server 220 can similarly request and receive the streamingvideo to start buffering the streaming video at the provider server 220,but generate a video preview for a particular duration, based on apredetermined length of time. The provider server 220 can generate thevideo preview based on the predetermined length of time and provide thevideo preview to the user device 230.

The second GUI 820 can include a scrollbar 840 and indicator 850. Thescroll bar may be a representation of the video in terms of time. Forexample, the length of the scroll bar can represent 4 minutes, whichcould be the entire length of the video. If the indicator 850 is in themiddle of the scroll bar, the position of the video may be at 2 minutes,or in the middle of the video.

Non-consecutive frames can be chosen as well. For example, a user canselect several clips of a video that would play consecutively. In oneembodiment, the second GUI 820 can contain a draggable gripper thatenables the user to select a precise number of sections to use for thevideo preview. Multiple grippers could be added to the video timelineand numbered. Additionally, an uploading interface could enable users toupload individual scenes of videos (e.g., scenes the user made, framesor images found on external websites) and splice the scenes together tocreate a video preview with non-consecutive frames.

The second GUI 820 may also include a create button 860 and a cancelbutton 870. For example, once the user has selected the frames or timeto use for the video portion, the user can select the create button 860to create a video preview or the cancel button 870 to not create a videopreview. The user may also press the close button 880 to close thesecond GUI 820 and return to the first GUI 800.

The second GUI 820 may also include a gripper (not shown). The grippercan be dragged by the user to resize the clipping box. The rounded gripcontrol can resize the scale of the video track so that the user caneasily zoom to a particular part of the video's track and scale it to aparticular second. In an embodiment, the width and location of thegripper can be adjusted independently. For example, when the width ofthe gripper is expanded, the video preview can be adjusted from a4-second video preview to a 10-second video preview. When the locationof the gripper is adjusted, the original video preview that included a4-second clip at 1 minute 31 seconds through 1 minute 35 seconds, caninclude a new 4-second video preview at 1 minute 57 seconds through 2minutes 1 second. The gripper can help crop the video (e.g., shorten theduration of a full video, resize the dimensions of a full video) togenerate a video preview.

IV. Playing Video Previews

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart illustrating a method of playing a videopreview according to an embodiment of the present invention. Forexample, the created video preview can be provided to a computingdevice, which activates the video preview. When activated, the videopreview plays the series of images.

At block 910, a video preview associated with a link to a full video canbe received. The video preview may be received from a provider server220 at a computing device (e.g., a user device 230, a third party server240). In some embodiments, the link to the full video with the videopreview may also be received at the computing device.

At block 920, an activation of the video preview may be received. Insome examples, the activation may be based on the location of the videopreview on a display of the computing device. The video preview can beprovided by a GUI or other application used for displaying a videopreview.

At block 930, images of the video preview may be displayed. For example,the images of the video preview may be displayed in response to theactivation of the video preview.

At block 940, a selection of the video preview may be received. Forexample, the selection may be in response to an activation device (e.g.,a finger, a mouse pointer) moving close to the video preview on thedisplay and selecting (e.g., clicking, tapping, hovering). In someexamples, the selection may be inferred after the video preview finishesplaying a threshold number of times. The selection may be receivedsubsequent to displaying at least some of the images of the videopreview.

At block 950, an application may be directed to a full video associatedwith the link. For example, the application may be an application of thecomputing device and the direction to the link may be in response toselecting the video preview. The full video may be stored at a videoserver 210. In some embodiments, the link to the full video can directthe user to a webpage provided by the application (e.g., a browserapplication accessing the webpage). In other embodiments, the link tothe full video can open a GUI that plays the full video stored at thecomputing device (e.g., locally).

The link to the full video may be used or transmitted to the computingdevice in various ways. For example, when the computing device is a userdevice 230, the link may be sent to the application operated by the userdevice 230 (e.g., web browser). The link may be populated in theapplication so that the user device 230 can quickly access the fullvideo provided by a webpage. In another example, when the computingdevice is a third party server 240, the link may be sent to theapplication operated by the third party server 240 to incorporate withadditional information (e.g., marketing material, a third partywebpage). The application may be directed to the full video via thelink, in order for the third party server 240 to incorporate the fullvideo with the additional information.

In some embodiments, the link may be used when selecting the videopreview. For example, when an activation device (e.g., mouse pointer) atthe computing device selects (e.g., clicks, taps) the link associatedwith the full video, the application of the computing device can bedirected to the full video via the link. In another example, theselection can be sent to the provider server 220, which can use the linkto direct the application to obtain information from a third partyserver 240 or a full video stored at a video server 210.

V. Video Previews with More than One Layer of Data

In some embodiments, the video preview can include a caption. A captioncan be text that enhances the video preview by displaying text inconjunction with the video preview as the video preview is playing.Users can add captions to particular segments of the video previews toconvey speech between characters in a scene, or more generallycommunicate or label activity that is taking place. For example,captions can be expressive statements like “Eat Dirt” or “I can'tbelieve he's doing this,” or explanations for what is happening in thevideo. The captions may be modifiable through a GUI. The use of captionscan be advantageous, especially when a video does not include sound, sothat a particular idea can be conveyed with the combined video andcaption.

The caption can be a soft caption or a hard caption. For example, a softcaption can include storing the text of the caption separately from thevideo preview and/or video preview object. Then, when the video previewobject is displayed (e.g., on a computing device, via a network page),the caption is displayed on top of the video. For hard captioning, anadditional video preview object can be generated that incorporates thecaption with the video content. When displayed, the video preview objectwould include the video and the caption, without displaying anadditional caption on top of the video.

FIG. 10 shows an illustration of a “soft caption” according to anembodiment of the present invention. The illustration includes a3-dimensional view a video preview with more than one layer of data, ora dual-layer file. The first layer can be the video preview and thesecond layer of data can be a caption (e.g., a soft caption). The videopreview can be displayed in a first layer 1010 and the caption can bedisplayed in a second layer 1020. In an embodiment, the first layer 1010and second layer 1020 can be displayed in the same space, so that theuser sees a first layer behind a second layer. The second layer may betransparent, except for the text, so that the video preview can be seenthrough the second layer. The video preview can play in the backgroundand the caption can cover part of the video preview. By using layers,the caption may be adjusted independently from the video preview. Insome embodiments, “soft captioning” may be used to combine the portionof the video preview with the caption that overlaps with the video(e.g., where the caption can be displayed on top of the video previewlayer without altering the video preview itself).

In some embodiments, the video preview may be transcoded in order toincorporate the caption with the video preview. The transcoding can beused to combine the video preview in a first layer 1010 and the captionin a second layer 1020, so that the video preview and the caption becomea single-layered video preview. For example, this process may include“hard captioning.”

In an embodiment, priorities may be assigned to the layers. For example,the second layer 1020 may have a higher priority than the first layer1010, so the second layer is shown on top of the first layer. Prioritiesof the layers may be adjusted. For example, when a layer is a caption ontop of the video, the layers may be editable by the user who creates thevideo preview.

The video preview and caption may be provided to the user in parallel.In an embodiment, the user may view an animated video preview and ananimated caption, so that the video preview is playing at the same timethe caption is playing. When the caption is playing, the caption may notvisually move for the user, but instead, the animated caption can bestatic text that is displayed for a particular amount of time. In thissense, the caption can be played much like a video preview but withoutmoving while it is played.

In an embodiment, the caption may move. For example, the caption can beassociated with a position on a display (e.g., the (x,y) position). Thecaption location could be changed depending on the point in the videobeing played back.

The caption can be adjusted based on metadata. For example, if theviewer of the video preview uses a web browser that translates allwebpages and text to Spanish, the caption can be translated to Spanishas well. The caption may be adjusted by color, font, size, position on ascreen, or other options as well. The caption may be a “soft caption”that is independent of a video preview file, instead of a “hard caption”that is part of the file format. This is advantageous over other videosystems that embed text with a video because in those systems, the textcannot be changed if the viewer's preferences are different than thevideo creator's initial choice. This may also help viewers see a smallercaption by adjusting the size of the text in the caption to be largerwithout adjusting the size of the video to be larger as well.

FIG. 11 shows an illustration of a caption and a video in a graphicaluser interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. TheGUI 1100 may display a video preview 1120 and a caption 1130 to assistthe user in generating a video preview with a corresponding captionusing soft captioning or hard captioning.

One or more scrollbars 1140, 1150 may be provided. For example, a firstscrollbar 1140 can correspond with the video preview and the secondscrollbar 1150 can correspond with the caption. The scrollbars 1140,1150 may allow the user to determine which images from the full videocan be included in the video preview and which portions of the videopreview can display the caption. In some embodiments, the scrollbar maybe a single scrollbar allowing multiple indicators to appear on the samescrollbar (e.g., one for the video preview, a plurality for theplurality of captions).

One or more scrollbars 1140, 1150 may include a corresponding indicator1145, 1155 respectively. The indicator 1145 for the video preview canshow which portions of the full video should be included in the videopreview. The indicator 1155 for the caption can show correspondingportions of the full video that should include a caption.

In some embodiments, the indicator 1155 can include text. The text maybe the text (or a portion of the text) that corresponds with thecaption. For example, the text on the indicator 1155 can say “caption 1”to identify the first caption of many captions that can be displayed atthe particular time during the video preview 1120. In another example,the text on the indicator 1155 can say “the building just imploded!!” or“the building just . . . ” to signify the text in the caption that canappear with the video preview.

In some embodiments, a gripper may be provided (not shown). The grippercan be dragged by the user to resize the clipping box. The rounded gripcontrol can resize the scale of the video track so that the user caneasily zoom to a particular part of the video's track and scale it to aparticular second. In an embodiment, the width and location of thegripper can be adjusted independently. For example, when the width ofthe gripper is expanded, the video preview can be adjusted from a4-second video preview to a 10-second video preview. When the locationof the gripper is adjusted, the original video preview that included a4-second clip at 1 minute 31 seconds through 1 minute 35 seconds, caninclude a new 4-second video preview at 1 minute 57 seconds through 2minutes 1 second. The gripper can help crop the video to generate avideo preview.

The GUI 1100 can also be used to add captions by hovering over a captiondisplayed on the video preview 1120. Hovering over a caption 1130 canresult in grips appearing on the left and right of the caption text. Thecaption text can reveal controls, which let the user edit, move, ordelete items displayed with the video preview. When a user clicks “AddCaption” (not shown), the video can pause during the editing of thevideo preview, and the text block can snap into place around the currentelapsed time of the video preview. For example, if the user hovers overa caption for 2 seconds, the grips may appear. The captions may belimited in length (e.g., two lines) and positioned (e.g., by draggingthe caption box). When a user selects another portion of the GUI 1100unassociated with the caption 1130, the text properties can be replacedby an “add caption” button and the video can resume playing. When theGUI is used for video previews, a wrapper can be implemented such thatit can pause when a caption is added or converted to an alternate format(e.g. WEBM).

A second caption can be added by clicking the “add caption” button orselecting the scrollbar 1150. When two or more captions are used, thecaptions can be positioned on the screen and/or overlap in the scrollbar1150 or indicator 1155.

VI. Example Subsystems and Components

Any of the clients or servers may utilize any suitable number ofsubsystems. Examples of such subsystems or components are shown in FIG.12. The subsystems shown in FIG. 12 are interconnected via a system bus1275. Additional subsystems such as a printer 1274, keyboard 1278, fixeddisk 1279, monitor 1276, which is coupled to display adapter 1282, andothers are shown. Peripherals and input/output (I/O) devices, whichcouple to I/O controller 1271, can be connected to the computer systemby any number of means known in the art, such as input/output (I/O) port1277 (e.g., USB, FireWire®). For example, I/O port 1277 or externalinterface 1281 (e.g. Ethernet, Wi-Fi, etc.) can be used to connect thecomputer apparatus to a wide area network such as the Internet, a mouseinput device, or a scanner. The interconnection via system bus allowsthe central processor 1273, which may include one or more processors, tocommunicate with each subsystem and to control the execution ofinstructions from system memory 1272 or the fixed disk 1279 (such as ahard drive or optical disk), as well as the exchange of informationbetween subsystems. The system memory 1272 and/or the fixed disk 1279may embody a computer readable medium. Any of the data mentioned hereincan be output from one component to another component and can be outputto the user.

It should be understood that any of the embodiments of the presentinvention can be implemented in the form of control logic using hardware(e.g. an application specific integrated circuit or field programmablegate array) and/or using computer software with a generally programmableprocessor in a modular or integrated manner. As user herein, a processorincludes a multi-core processor on a same integrated chip, or multipleprocessing units on a single circuit board or networked. Based on thedisclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill inthe art will know and appreciate other ways and/or methods to implementembodiments of the present invention using hardware and a combination ofhardware and software.

Any of the software components or functions described in thisapplication may be implemented as software code to be executed by aprocessor using any suitable computer language such as, for example,Java®, C++ or Perl using, for example, conventional or object-orientedtechniques. The software code may be stored as a series of instructionsor commands on a computer readable medium for storage and/ortransmission, suitable media include random access memory (RAM), a readonly memory (ROM), a magnetic medium such as a hard-drive or a floppydisk, or an optical medium such as a compact disk (CD) or DVD (digitalversatile disk), flash memory, and the like. The computer readablemedium may be any combination of such storage or transmission devices.

Such programs may also be encoded and transmitted using carrier signalsadapted for transmission via wired, optical, and/or wireless networksconforming to a variety of protocols, including the Internet. As such, acomputer readable medium according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may be created using a data signal encoded with such programs.Computer readable media encoded with the program code may be packagedwith a compatible device or provided separately from other devices(e.g., via Internet download). Any such computer readable medium mayreside on or within a single computer program product (e.g. a harddrive, a CD, or an entire computer system), and may be present on orwithin different computer program products within a system or network. Acomputer system may include a monitor, printer, or other suitabledisplay for providing any of the results mentioned herein to a user.

Any of the methods described herein may be totally or partiallyperformed with a computer system including one or more processors, whichcan be configured to perform the steps. Thus, embodiments can bedirected to computer systems configured to perform the steps of any ofthe methods described herein, potentially with different componentsperforming a respective steps or a respective group of steps. Althoughpresented as numbered steps, steps of methods herein can be performed ata same time or in a different order. Additionally, portions of thesesteps may be used with portions of other steps from other methods. Also,all or portions of a step may be optional. Additionally, any of thesteps of any of the methods can be performed with modules, circuits, orother means for performing these steps.

The specific details of particular embodiments may be combined in anysuitable manner without departing from the spirit and scope ofembodiments of the invention. However, other embodiments of theinvention may be directed to specific embodiments relating to eachindividual aspect, or specific combinations of these individual aspects.

The above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention has beenpresented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdescribed, and many modifications and variations are possible in lightof the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described inorder to best explain the principles of the invention and its practicalapplications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilizethe invention in various embodiments and with various modifications asare suited to the particular use contemplated.

A recitation of “a”, “an” or “the” is intended to mean “one or more”unless specifically indicated to the contrary.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of creating a video preview, the methodcomprising: receiving a link to a full video at a computing device froma graphical user interface (GUI) executing on the computing device;receiving, by the computing device from the GUI, an identification ofone or more video portions of the full video at the computing device,wherein the video portions include a series of copies of images from thefull video, the one or more video portions consisting of images of thefull video that have been identified as being viewed at least athreshold number of times; after receiving the link to the full videoand the identification of the one or more video portions of the fullvideo at the computing device, generating, by the computing device, avideo preview from the identified video portions, wherein the videopreview is configured to play the series of copies of images associatedwith images of the video portions from the full video when activated;and creating, by the computing device, a video preview object bycombining the video preview and the link, wherein a selection of thevideo preview provides access to the full video.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the computing device is a provider server and theidentification of the video portion is received from a user.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the video portion corresponds tonon-sequential images from the full video.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising: storing the full video at the computing device. 5.The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a specified numberof frames per second; and generating the video preview at an alteredframe rate associated with the specified number of frames per second. 6.The method of claim 5, wherein the altered frame rate is less than aframe rate in the full video.
 7. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising: displaying the altered frame rate on the graphical userinterface (GUI).
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identifiesthe video portion of the full video by rewinding the full video so thatthe full video replays the video portion more than once.
 9. The methodof claim 1, wherein the link to the full video is included in a pushnotification, wherein the push notification is a request to generate avideo preview.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the full video is aportion of the full video, and wherein the computing device supportstranscoding functionality.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein a durationof the video preview is a predetermined length of time.
 12. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: receiving a caption; correlating thevideo preview with a first layer; correlating the caption with a secondlayer, such that the second layer is displayed with the first layer fora user; and creating a dual-layer file with the correlated video previewand caption.
 13. A method of claim 12 further comprising: assigning afirst priority with the first layer; assigning a second priority withthe second layer; and providing the first layer beneath the second layerin the dual-layer file when the first priority is less than the secondpriority.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the full video is locatedat a destination location, and the method further comprising: receivingthe destination location; and in response to receiving a selection,directing a browser to the destination location.
 15. The method of claim1, further comprising: uploading the video preview object to a server.16. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readablemedium storing a plurality of instructions that when executed control acomputer system to creating a video preview, the instructionscomprising: receive a link to a full video from a graphical userinterface (GUI) executing on the computing device; receive, by thecomputing device from the GUI, an identification of one or more videoportions of the full video, wherein the video portions include a seriesof copies of images from the full video; defining one or more sectionsthat have been viewed at least a threshold number of times from theseries of copies of images from the full video; after receiving the linkto the full video and the identification of the one or more videoportions of the full video at the computing device, generate a videopreview from the one or more sections, wherein the video preview isconfigured to play the series of copies of images associated with imagesof the video portions from the full video when activated; and create, bythe computing device, a video preview object by combining the videopreview and the link, wherein a selection of the video preview providesaccess to the full video.
 17. A method of creating a video preview, themethod comprising: for each of a plurality of images of a full video:receiving, at a computing device, a number of times that the image hasbeen viewed by a plurality of users; identifying, by the computingdevice, images of the full video that have been viewed at least athreshold number of times based on the number of times that each of theimages of the full video been viewed, wherein the threshold number oftimes that each of the images has been viewed is relative to a number oftimes that one or more other images of the full video have been played;defining one or more sections that have been viewed at least thethreshold number of times by identifying a first series of images fromthe full video that have been viewed at least the threshold number oftimes; and generating, by the computing device, a video preview from theone or more sections, wherein the video preview is configured to displaythe first series of images from the full video associated with theidentified one or more sections when activated.
 18. The method of claim17, wherein the threshold number of times is at least double a number oftimes that other sections are viewed by the plurality of users.
 19. Themethod of claim 17, further comprising: defining a second one or moresections that have been viewed at least the threshold number of times byidentifying a second series of images from the full video that have beenviewed at least the threshold number of times; and generating, by thecomputing device, a second video preview from the second one or moresections, wherein the second video preview is configured to display thesecond series of images from the full video associated with theidentified one or more sections when activated.
 20. The method of claim19, further comprising: transmitting, by the computing device, thegenerated first video preview and second video preview to a sharedrepository.
 21. A method of viewing a video preview, the methodcomprising: receiving, from a provider server at a computing device, aplurality of video previews that are associated with full videos,wherein the plurality of video previews include a video preview thatincludes a plurality of copies of images of a full video; displayingmore than one of the plurality of video previews on a display of thecomputing device; receiving an activation of the video preview;displaying the images of the video preview in response to the activationof the video preview, wherein the activation of the video previewautomatically occurs based on a window of the video preview being at aspecified location on a display of the computing device; receiving aselection of the video preview subsequent to displaying at least some ofthe images of the video preview, the selection of the video previewbeing of a displayed image of the video preview; and in response toselecting the video preview, directing an application of the computingdevice to the full video, the full video stored at a video server. 22.The method of claim 21, wherein a link to the full video directs theuser to a webpage provided by a browser.
 23. The method of claim 21further comprising: receiving, at the computing device, a link to thefull video with the video preview; and directing the application to thefull video via the link.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein theselection is sent to the provider server, which directs the applicationto the full video stored at the video server, wherein the providerserver creates the video preview object by combining the video previewand the link.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein a link to the fullvideo opens a GUI that plays the full video stored at the computingdevice.
 26. The method of claim 21, further comprising: identifying thatthe video preview has moved to a location on the display at thecomputing device, wherein the movement to the location on the displayinitiates the activation of the video preview.